Andreas Weigend

Dr Andreas Weigend is a world-leading expert in big data, consumer behaviour, and social-mobile technologies, helping organisations transform how they understand and engage their customers through data. As Amazon's former Chief Scientist, he shaped the company's data strategy and customer-centric culture, and now directs the Social Data Lab whilst teaching at Stanford University and UC Berkeley. He advises global innovators including Alibaba, BMW, Lufthansa, MasterCard, and the World Economic Forum, guiding them to ask the right questions and define meaningful metrics. Audiences leave his sessions equipped to harness data's power for smarter decision-making and stronger customer connections in an increasingly data-driven world.

During his tenure as Amazon's Chief Scientist, Dr Andreas Weigend architected the data strategy and customer-centric culture that helped transform the company into a global leader in understanding consumer behaviour. That foundation, built at one of the world's most data-driven organisations, positioned him to become one of the foremost authorities on how businesses can harness the power of social data to create meaningful customer connections. With a PhD in Physics from Stanford University, following studies in Germany and Cambridge, Andreas combines rigorous scientific thinking with practical commercial application, exploring how the convergence of big data, social networks, and mobile technologies is reshaping the relationship between organisations and their customers.

Andreas directs the Social Data Lab, a collaborative initiative that connects academic researchers with companies seeking innovative approaches to customer engagement and data-driven decision-making. He teaches at Stanford University and UC Berkeley, where he guides students and executives through the complexities of the social data revolution and its implications for business strategy. His advisory work spans innovative Silicon Valley startups and global corporations including Alibaba, AT&T, BMW, GE, IBM, Lufthansa, MasterCard, Tencent, Thomson Reuters, Walmart, and the World Economic Forum. In each engagement, he helps organisations move beyond simply collecting data to asking the right questions, defining relevant metrics, and translating insights into competitive advantage. His book, Data For the People: How to Make Our Post-Privacy Economy Work For You, examines the evolving relationship between individuals, their data, and the companies that use it.

In his speaking engagements, Andreas equips audiences with practical frameworks for turning data into strategic decisions that strengthen customer relationships and drive business growth. He addresses the opportunities and challenges of operating in a post-privacy economy, helping leaders understand how to build trust whilst leveraging customer insights responsibly. Audiences leave with clarity on how to navigate the irreversible impact of data on their industries, actionable strategies for creating customer value through intelligent data use, and the confidence to lead their organisations through digital transformation. Whether addressing technology leaders, marketing executives, or board-level strategists, Andreas delivers insights that bridge the gap between technical possibility and commercial reality, ensuring organisations remain competitive in an increasingly data-driven world.